The 2017 Adelaide Festival is now more accessible than ever, with teenagers able to see shows for as little as $5, and concession card holders able to name their own price for deeply discounted tickets to selected performances.

Co Artistic Directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield are reaching out to young audiences with the return of the Festival’s 18 and Under Rush Tickets scheme, a popular initiative from the 1980s and ‘90s that allows teenagers to see world class theatre, music and dance for a fraction of the price. By signing up to the 18 and Under Rush Tickets email list, young people can be notified of last minute tickets to selected shows for just $5, offering discounts of up to 90 per cent.

Rachel says the idea was inspired by her own experience of the festival in her teen years: "Many people my age and older will remember the Adelaide Theatre Passport scheme; it started in the late 1970s and ran for nearly 20 years. Armed with my theatre passport, my friends and I saw dozens of shows for as little as $1 because local arts organisations ensured unsold theatre seats were available to high school students,” she says.

Concession card holders can also access deeply discounted tickets through the Festival’s popular Pay What You Can scheme, naming their own ticket price for selected shows based on what they can afford.